The Fiat 500x is the latest brand extension to the delightful super mini and iconic Fiat 500, this latest car takes all the curves and friendly face from the original and sizes it up into a practical family small SUV, it really is a peach of a car, better looking than all the competition and has inherited its smaller siblings personality too. Fiat has spent $1 billion building a new factory to produce this car so while it may not hit the sales in this country it deserves it will be a car that sells in huge numbers across Mainland Europe and beyond, we have long memories with regard to cars in this Country and the Fix It Again Tomorrow tag has undeservedly stuck to the brand.

The 500x is longer and wider than its competitors but only offers 350 litres of luggage space, the same as the Nissan Juke and 27 less than a Renault Captur and to give you an idea of where the 500x is targeting its market that is 80 litres less than a Nissan Qashqai. The driving position in the 500x is commanding but seating is not as upright as one would expect and the seats are a little firm for long journeys, but the 500x drives brilliantly, soaking up the bumps and the handling is surprisingly sharp. Rear room for two adults up to six foot is excellent and the large windows give good amounts of light into the cabin.

The 500X comes in two versions. City and Off Road, City versions get smoother, sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, while the Off Road models have a more rugged appearance thanks to chunkier bumpers, visible underbody protection and roof rails. City models are Pop Star and Lounge and the Off Road models are given more commanding names in Cross and Cross Plus. All models have as standard a 5″ touch screen radio and bluetooth streaming audio unit, all round electric windows, rear parking sensors, climate control, cruise control and 17″ alloys, the Lounge and Cross Plus modes add a built in Sat nav, Bi-Xenon headlights, 18″ alloys and keyless door opening and ignition.

The petrol engine options are two new and two outgoing namely the 1.4 litre turbo petrol and a 1.6 litre petrol. The outgoing six speed manual or dual clutch auto 1.4 litre petrol with 140bhp, 0-62 can be achieved in 9.8 seconds and the top speed is 118 miles per hour, economy is ok at 47.1 miles per gallon combined. The entry level 1.6 petrol offering a lowly 44.1 miles per gallon from its 108bhp, performance of 0-62 in 11.5 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph. The new engines are 1.0 and 1.3 litres in size, the 1.0 litre 3 cylinder turbo produces 118bhp and can reach 62 mph in 10.9 seconds, top speed 117mph, economy is 47.1 mpg. The four cylinder 1.3 petrol pushes out 148 bhp and is a six-speed auto only and returns 43,5 mpg, 0-62 time is 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. The other option is a six speed manual 1.6 litre 120bhp diesel can return 68.9 mpg and reach 62 mph in 10.5 seconds.

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